Reef Spotlight - January 2012 - "swannyson7"

swannyson7

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The pics in this article were updated based on the member's build thread due to original photos posted in article being lost from server.

REEF SPOTLIGHT - January 2012

The Reef Aquarium of:
Scott Swanson aka "swannyson7"
title.jpg


You can also check out my tank build here on R2R:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/43713-swannyson7s-180g-mixed-reef.html

fts2.jpg


Introduction
I’d like to thank the entire R2R community for the opportunity to have my tank featured as this month’s Reef Spotlight. This is my first attempt at an SPS dominated reef and thus far has been pretty successful in it’s first 18 months. I hope you all enjoy my tank to the extent that I enjoy looking at it daily!
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been keeping freshwater fish since I was young, starting with goldfish and graduating to tropical and cichlid tanks in the early 90s. I first dove into saltwater in 1997 with a FOWLR and at the advice of one of my Army buddies, started my first reef tank in 2003.
Who or what was responsible for getting you into the hobby?
My friend Gabe (Gar732) was the one that first gave me the reef bug. We set up a 20g tank in the barracks at West Point with a few damsels to fulfill our addiction. After visiting a few LFS in the area, we started talking about reef tanks, which he had kept in the past. He set me up with my first protein skimmer, a CF fixture, and the know-how to get my first reef tank started.
Who or what in the hobby most influences/inspires you?
The tanks of a few locals such as Scott Cato & Keith Berkelhamer provided the inspiration to dive into SPS keeping, and I haven’t looked back…
What are your future plans for improvement/upgrade of the tank?
Once I move into a larger house, I’d like to set up a 300g DD with a fish room in the basement, but unfortunately my current house doesn’t have the space to permit such a large tank.
Any Final thoughts?
Aquaculture is the wave of the future! It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the survival of the world’s reefs for generations to come. As reef hobbyists, we hold a pinnacle role in educating the masses regarding sustainable practices within the industry and we have the power to ensure that livestock is collected in a humane manner.

fts3.jpg


System Profile
Display tank:
180 gallon AGA tank with corner overflows. 72”L X 24”W X 24”H
Glass or Acrylic: Glass
Stand: I built the stand to allow extra height within the stand, adequate access to every area of the stand , and incorporated slide-out tables to use while working in the tank.
Sump: 55 gallon standard tank with a built in 15 gallon refugium.
Protein Skimmer: Octopus Extreme 200 with the pump upgraded to a Bubble Blaster 3000.
Carbon/phosphate filtration: (2) TLF Phosban reactors running carbon & Rowaphos and a TLF 550 with 1L WM Ecobak. All reactors are fed by a Quiet One 4000 pump off of a manifold.
Return Pump: Quiet One 6000
Water circulation: (2) Vortech MP40w ES and (2) Vortech MP10w ES.
Lighting: (3) Reef Filtration Gen2 150w LED fixtures and a Nova Extreme Pro (8x39w) T5HO 72” fixture. In the NEP, I’m currently using six ATI Blue+, two ATI Purple+, two ATI AquaBlue Special, and two UVL Superactinic. The UVLs and two of the Blue+ are used for the dawn/dusk cycle, while the remaining bulbs are used for a full noon effect.
Calcium/alkalinity/magnesium dosing: For the first year of the tank, I was using BRS 3-part via BRS dosing pumps. At the one year mark, my Ca/Alk demand was becoming excessive, so I switched to a Korallin 3002 calcium reactor with an Aquarium Plants regulator. I’m currently using Carribsea Course media along with Brightwell’s NeoMag to aid in Magnesium demand. I also top off through a TLF kalk reactor to help maintain stable Ca/Alk, but it is only used when the lights are off in an attempt to stabilize pH.
Auto top-off: ATO is set up using multiple float switches for redundancy and it’s run through a breakout box on my Apex. During daylight hours, RO water is added, but when the lights are off, the ATO is pumped through a TLF kalk reactor.
Heating/cooling: The system uses two 300w Finnex titanium heaters. They have external thermostats with temperature probes, but are hooked up to my Apex for redundancy.
System control: Neptune Apex with two EB8’s, a breakout box, a pH probe, & a Temperature probe.

2.jpg


Water Circulation and Flow Summary and Objectives
Circulation is provided by two MP40w’s and two MP10w’s. The MP40s are run in antisync Reefcrest mode, while the MP10s are run independently in Reefcrest mode. The return lines split to two Locline outlets each, and I’m using a mix of penductors and flare nozzles to help increase flow. I’ve toyed with the idea of adding a closed loop as the SPS colonies grow out a bit, but for now, I’m undecided.

1.jpg


Water Parameters
* Temp: 78-81F via Apex
* pH: 8.3-8.6 via Apex
* Specific gravity: 1.026 via Refractometer
* NO3: Undetectable via Salifert
* Ca: 460 via Salifert
* Alk: 8.1 dKH via hanna calorimeter
* Mg: 1350 via Salifert & Red Sea Pro
* PO4: 0 via Hanna Calorimeter
* Ammonia and nitrites: Undetectable via Salifert

3.jpg

Lighting Photoperiod
6:30 AM:
Actinic T5s ON
6:40 AM:
Moonlights OFF
8:00 AM:
LEDs ON
11:45 AM:
Daylight T5s ON
2:15 PM:
Daylight T5s OFF
5:00 PM:
LEDs OFF
6:50 PM:
Moonlights ON
7:00 PM:
Actinics OFF

4.jpg


Filtration and Water Quality Summary and Objectives
My drain lines filter through two 200 micron felt filter socks, and one of the train lines has an outlet off of it to feed water into my refugium. The refugium has a DSB, LR rubble, and a ball of chaetomorpha with a MiniMag pump for circulation. For skimming, I use an Octopus Extreme 200 driven by a Bubble Blaster 3000 pump, but in time I'll be trying out a Bubble Magus BM180 that I won in "The Great Forum Giveaway" last year. I run one liter of WM Ecobak in a TLF 550, 4 cups of Rox 0.8 GAC in a TLF 150, and 3 cups of Rowaphos in another TLF 150. Carbon is swapped out monthly and Rowaphos is swapped out bimonthly.

7.jpg


5.jpg


Tank Inhabitants - Fish
(7) Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Melanarus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
Filamented Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus filamentosus)
Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus)
Pink Spotted Goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus)
Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus)
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea)
(2) Dragonface Pipefish (Corythoichthys sp.)
Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
Lamarck's Angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck)
Ruby Headed Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus sp.)
(2) Bangaii Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)
Mystery Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus ocellatus)
Percula Clown (Amphiprion percula)

fish bangaii.jpg


fish blue hippo.jpg


fish goby.jpg


fish rabbit.jpg


fish regal angel.jpg


fish wrasse.jpg


fish convict t.jpg


fish malanarus wrasse.jpg


fish yt.jpg


fish mandarin.jpg


fish mystery wrasse.jpg


Frag Tank Inhabitants - Fish
(2) Black Ice Clowns (Amphiprion percula)
(2) Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum)
Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)

fish 6 line.jpg


fish clown1.jpg


fish clown2.jpg


Tank Inhabitants - Other Invertebrates
Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni complex)
Marbled Fromia Starfish (Fromia sp.)
Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)
Derasa Clam (Tridacna derasa)
RBTA (Entacmea quadricolor)
GBTA (Entacmea quadricolor)
Maxi-mini carpet anemone
Coco Worm (Protula bispiralis)
Feather Duster (Sabellastarte sp.)
Various snails & hermit crabs

clam.jpg


invert star.jpg


nem.jpg


Tank Inhabitants— Corals
SPS

Acropora valida
Motnipora confusa
Acropora cerealis
Acropora millepora
Acropora prostrata
Acrpora tenuis
Hydnophora sp
Montipora digitata
Montipora capricornis
Montipora undata
Stylophora spp
Porites cylindrica
Turbinaria sp.
Acropora tortuosa
Acropora nasuta
Seriatopora hystrix
Acropora efflorescens
Acropora secale
Acropora samoensis
Acropora gemmifera
Montipora verrucosa
Acropora cytherea
Acropora echinata
Acropora plana
Montipora setosa
Seriatopora caliendrum
Montipora danae
Various other UID Acropora sp. & Montipora sp.

LPS
Blastomussa merletti
Favites pentagona
Favia speciosa
Scolymia australis
Acanthastrea echinata
Goniastrea palauensis
Euphyllia paradivisa
Piergyra Sinuosa
Lobophyllia hemprichii
Euphyllia parancora
Nemenzophyllia turbida
Duncanopsammia axifuga
Cycloseris tenuis
Trachyphyllia radiate
Alveopora sp.
Cyphastrea sp.
Blastomussa wellsi
Acanthastrea lordhowensus
Caulastrea furcata

Softies
Paltythoa sp.
Zoanthus sp.
Sarcophyton sp.
Green Nepthea
Xenia sp.
Anthelia sp.
Briareum sp.
Knopia sp.
Actinodiscus sp.
Discosoma sp.
Rhodactis sp.
Ricordea Yuma
Sympodium sp.

coral.jpg


coral td.jpg


cora birdsnest.jpg


coral 2leather.jpg


coral td2.jpg


coral 3.jpg


coral acan.jpg


coral1.jpg


coral acro.jpg


coral acro1.jpg


coral acro2.jpg


coral td3.jpg


coral anthelia.jpg


coral acro3.jpg


coral acro4.jpg


coral acro5.jpg


coral monti3.jpg


coral zoas.jpg


coral brain.jpg


coral acro6.jpg


coral digi.jpg


coral duncan.jpg


coral favia.jpg


coral plate1.jpg


coral favia2.jpg


coral leather.jpg


coral hammer.jpg


coral lepto.jpg


coral milli.jpg


coral monti.jpg


coral monti2.jpg


coral mushrooms.jpg


coral palys.jpg


coral zoas2.jpg


coral2.jpg


coral plate.jpg


coral td4.jpg


coral stag.jpg


coral zoas4.jpg


coral zoas5.jpg



And here are a few macro pics:

macro1.jpg


macro2.jpg


macro3.jpg


macro4.jpg


macro5.jpg


macro6.jpg


macro7.jpg


macro8.jpg


Fish and Coral Feeding
The fish are fed several times per day, primarily with a mix of Prime Reef flakes, home-made fish food, and spectrum pellets. I feed fresh nori every other day and I add freshly hatched baby brine shrimp to the tank once per week. Periodically, I’ll also feed the fish with various frozen foods such as brine, cyclopeeze, formula 2, or fresh oyster meat. I target feed my LPS once per week with Fauna Marin LPS pellets and for the SPS, I dose Brightwells CoralAmino and Lugol’s (For blue/purple coloration) daily. I also occaisionally broadcast feed Oyster Feast, coral frenzy, or Reef Roids for the benefit of the corals.

6.jpg

Progression Photos

August 2010

fts 1 aug 10.jpg


October 2010

fts 2 oct 2010.jpg


December 2010

fts 3 december 2010.jpg


February 2011

fts 4 feb 2011.jpg


March 2011

fts 5 march 2011.jpg


April 2011

fts 6 april 2011.jpg


May 2011


fts 7 may 11.jpg


October 2011

fts 8 oct 2011.jpg



Conclusion
I'd like to thank the entire R2R community for allowing me to share my tank and most importantly, my wife for putting up with my addiction. After many years in the hobby, I've been through several ups & downs, learning a lot along the way. Every day in the hobby teaches me something new and I hope to continue learning for many years to come!

 
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Aquaph8

Love The Fish
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Beautiful Scott, you have an incredible mix in your reef. Well deserved spot light, congrats.
 

soccerbag

Chalices did this to me!!
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WELL DONE! Great looking tank and a great writeup. Thanks for sharing : )
 

ReefMP

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Great looking tank Scott. I've seem many tanks with LEDs and the pics almost never look like that with just LEDs, they are almost always too blue and washed out....I knew the trick was the LED/T5 combo, the colors look amazing, great job.
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Thanks for the kind words! I'm really happy with the mix of LED & T5 that I'm currently running. Although the LEDs are the primary light source, having the T5s for the broader color spectrum has prevented any of the issues with certain species of coral that some people can't get to color up under strictly LEDs.
 

luisgo

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Great mix of corals and excellent photos!! Love the colors. Congrats!!
 

gar732

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Awesome Scott! Every time I see it it looks better than than the last. I may have gotten you bitten by the reef bug but I'm definitely learning from you now.
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Thanks guys!

@Riv- It's a mutual learning experience, bro. I've learned a lot from some of the things you've done and gone through with your tank and I'm envious of your ability to keep acans & chalices. Some day I'll be able to keep them along with my sticks...
 

darryl_v

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Holy crap....just nuts. The colors, coral section.....the fishes oh the fishes. Simply amazing....I gotta go back and read a few more times. Great phtography as well.....hard to top this.
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Thanks guys! Told you I was winning, Secretreefer :snicker:
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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A shot from today of what is quickly becoming my favorite coral:
IMG_9857_1.jpg
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Nope, it's a MC Fuzzy Watermelon. When I first got it, it was nice, but now that the polyps have gotten the greenish hue to them I can't wait for it to grow more!
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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It seems to maintain this coloration under intense lighting, but I put a piece fairly low in the frag tank and the contrast in the polyps seemed to dissapear. Eventually it reverted back to blue/purple coloration and the polyps seemed to match the base. A nice piece regardless, but under high light it's beautiful.
 

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